Garage, air-raid shelter, or the like



Dec. 22, 1953 F. cAloLA GARAGE, AIR RAID lSHIEILTER OR THE LIK 6Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 1951 R. MS 0 TM ZAM, ma. fr* NC im 1M-A H 8 lGARAGE, AIR RAID SHELTER OR THE 'LI-KE i Dec. 22, 1953 Filed June29.11951 4th Floor 2nd Floor lsf F /aor JfdF/aar i,

INVENToR.

Fred Caio/0 ,dffomeys Dec. 2z, 1953 F.- CAIOLA 2,663,437

GARAGE, AIR RAID SHELLTER O R- Ti-Illv LIKE Filed June 29, 11951 6Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

Fred 00/'0/0 BY A f/orneys Dec. 22, 1953 F. cAloLAy GARAGE, AIRpRADSHELTER :0R THE LIKE- Filed June 29, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 22, 1953F. czAloLA-A 2,663,437

GARAGE, AIR RAID SHELTER OR THE LIKE Filed June 29, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet6 /s/ F /oor /50 @L F/G. /5

INVENTOR.

Fred Caio/0 BY M, Mx

Ahorneys 'cated below ground level. .Structure has fourfloors `(but itwill be understood that ,the invention may be embodied in alstructurehaving more or less floors) capable of Patented Dec. 22, 1953GARAGE, AIR-RAID SHELTER, R THE LIKE Fred Caiola, Bronx, N. Y.

Application June 29, 1951, Serial No. 234,173

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an air raid shelter, garage or the like whichis preferably, but not necessarily, located below ground level.

The general object of the invention is to provide for the housing ofpeople during an air raid and to provide a garage for the storage ofmotor vehicles having general utility during peacetime. The inventionresides in the elevating means by which motor vehicles and groups ofpeople may be carried from one floor to another of the garage or shelterat a rapid rate. To this end, the inarrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed with reference to the drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan View of the structure at the top fioorshowing the entrance and exit ramps;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the structure on the plane 2-2 ofFig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the third iioor of the structure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the structure;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the structure taken at a right angleto the section of Fig. 4 and showing the elevating mechanism which isomit'- ted from Figs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the structure showing the elevatingmechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a, fragmentary elevation showing how the rotatable ring issupported by the stationary 1`1I1g Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectionalview on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a load-carrying platform and the means bywhich it is pivotally suspended from the rotatable ring;

Fig. 11 is an elevation looking at the right side of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of structure andelevating mechanism, taken on the line |2-l2 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation, taken on the line l3-I3 of Fig. 12;and

Fig. 14 is a detailed sectional perspective of the rotatable ring ofFigs. 12 and 13 showing its roller support.

Referring to the drawings, the invention there illustrated is embodiedin a structure which is preferably made of reinforced concrete and lo Asillustrated, this 'vention is characterized by the construction andaccommodating vehicles and people. As illustrated in Fig. 1, entrance toand exit from the structure is by Way of bulkheaded ramps l2, I4, I6 andI8 which lead from ground level to the top (4th) floor ofthe structure.As illustrated, the structure has a cylindrical vertical outer wall 28,but this may be of any other configuration. Arranged in the center ofthe space enclosed by the wall 20, is a well formed by -a structurewhich is rectangular in horizontal crosssection and has side walls 22and 24, and end walls 26 and 28 provided with doorways asshown in Figs.1 to 3. This rectangular well houses the elevating device about to bedescribed. The spaces on the various floors enclosed by the outer wall20 may be treated as areas through which vehicles and people may pass toand from the elevating mechanism, andto and from auxiliary rooms (notshown) communicating with those areas through passageways 3B. 1

The elevating mechanism, -by which vehicles and peoplemay be transportedfrom one floor to any other iioor, will now be described. As best shownin Fig. 6, the elevating mechanism includes a rotatable ring 32 composedof segmental plates 34 having at their edges flanges which are boltedtogether as indicated at 35. The ring 32 is provided on its outercircumference with gear teeth 36 and bearing surfaces 38 and 39, as bestshown in Figs. 8 and 9. The plates 34 are also provided on both sideswith projecting bosses 49 and. 4i and with bearing surfaces 42 and 43,which-serve purposes hereinafter described. The ring 32 thus formed islocated in a vertical plane within a fixed ring 44 surrounding andspaced slightly from the rotatable ring 32. This fixed ring 44 is made'of segmental portions 45 which are alike, and a pair of top segmentalportions 46 between which a driving gear is located as hereinafterdescribed. These segmental portions 45 are secured to one another and tothe segmental portions 46 by bolts 41 which pass through flangesprovided in the segmental portions as shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Figs.4, 6, 8 and 9, the segmental portions 45 of the fixed ring 44 rotatablysupport rollers 48 and 49 which cooperate with the bearing surfaces 38and 39 on the circumference of the rotatable ring 32, thereby rotatablysupporting the rotatable ring 32 within the fixed ring 44.` As bestshown in Fig. 9, the segmental portions 45 of the fixed ring 44are'provided with outwardly extending portions 50 fromwhich extend finsA52, and these portions of the fixed ring 44 are `em` madameA castconcrete 54 integral with the 'wen structure. Thus the bottom half ofthe fixed ring 44 is supported on a concrete wall 5E, and the loadingand loading operations justvmentioned upper portion of the xed ring 44is supported may be repeated. Thus a minimum of twelve by a concreteWall'58, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. platforms may be in usesimultaneously, six of Located between the segmental portions 46 of thembeing engaged in receiving and six of them the xed ring 44 andcooperating with the gear 5 being engaged in delivering their loads.Obi/'i-i teeth 36 on the circumference of the rotatable ously, theresult is that the garage or air'Sraid ring 32, is a gear 60 Which issupported in suitshelter is capable of being lled with persons, ablebearings '6l' on the tops of the segmental materials and vehicles at avery rapid rate. Of portions'g. 'with tlieg'vearg is afge/ar courseg'itmay'befemptied vqith`-equalirapidity. 62 fixed toa shaft 6 of a suitableprime mover 10 The "modified-'structure ahdelevatiiig'mechasuch as a,diesel engine or electric motor 66 hay, nism shown in Figs. 12, 13 and14 will now be ing Suitable Speed reduCIlg means- ThllS the described.The principal difference in this emrotatable ring 32 may be{Otatgigirmttently n1-orina invention over that described for thepurposes hereinafter described. t 'theJspprti'ng structure for the carsor Figs. 6, 10 and 11 ShOW 110W the IOad-ery'ne :'15t-p'lf'irtf'cz'rnf'i's. To indicate general correspondence platforms orcars 68, arrangedflin)pairsx Witllithe Ipfparts,,n\ 1n 1ber s:higher by100 than equivalent platforms in each pair extending'laterallfromJpa`1'f"15s"i"n r'tie' structure previously described will Saidrotatable ring 32 0n Opposite Sidesitherleof, tensed so that they neednot be described in are pivotally suspendedfgrom said rotatable ring,detaiL .finesezplatmaas deasrhrsmrisegeeignetes? 20 Referring twigtliftrse Pimmel/hs am towhiemaresecured e-Qofio l2' e d 4 .closedbng fourSie@ ifi 't "the,

ng 32 Eacgl ring is securedV in the concrete by able anohorsti.-

gone-pum@ space, the shape of the sp walls. CQrreSpQndinatOtheipaihisllowesl cars as the ring rotates.. This-is best seen12,.Whe.re,the, innen- Well-. ,9 outer Wall at 20|. Tracing the ino *mevn 0f. the cars (the pOSiQIlS. Of.-.ilvlielfA Hashem! in .dotted linesvthis;lieure)n lfromV the A,top of `this annular tunnelfl'ilsestmturinalo k 'direction it. will fbe; seen that @ai descend, its lower insidecorner cornes A with-the inner .Walle 0050111 .Whichitrests for about aquarter revolutiorr, tthel Y'outside cornerisgincontact 20|. As the carmoves from the, .goclock -positiongitsfupper ide, corner contacts the'inside .Wall-and. :;ts- 19Wel..0ll;12$i de ,CQlIllell e911- tacts theoutside Wall. Suitable rolling contactis made. bynprovidingatheoars!witlgv rollers ggz; on all four edges as shown in Fig. The rollersmay :be spring-monetaire compensate., for'any 'irregularities .in thesppportingfsuriaeesanderer serve eiectivelwtosteady and" in parttosupport the @enduring,mantravelni, Y

ih) Westheimer.-wall. 231e Q1 tern 1.1199; three-tent i ner wall 230.There are two of these plates, one on either side of the ring 132. Theymay be made in sections and joined during construction.

Another pair of surfaces for the support of the inner ends of the carsoutwardly of the rotating supporting ring is provided by the verticalfaces of the concrete supporting wall |56 by which the inner ring Hillis carried. The faces of the wall 56, the upper ends of which terminatejust above the fourth floor, are in the same plane as the outer faces ofthe two supporting plates 205.

I'he inner end of each car is provided with a plurality of suitablecasters or rollers 2l8 adapted to rol]L in all directions to bearagainst the supports just described. As will be understood from Fig. 12,by the time the rollers on a car have moved off the lower ends oftheplates 205 other rollers are resting on the surfaces of supporting wall|56.

The rotatable ring 132 is provided, as shown in Fig. 14, with recessedtracks which bear against the rollers M8 and i139 ybetween which thering is provided with gear tooth recesses 2 Ill which are engaged by theteeth of driving gear |60 driven by the prime mover I 66. It will ofcourse be understood that as many driving motors or engines as may benecessary will be used to drive the rotatable ring and that they may belocated at different points around its circumference.

It will of course be understood that the drawings are more or lessdiagrammatic and do not show all of the details that would beincorporated in an elevating mechanism of the kind which forms thesubject of the present invention. For example, any even number ofcarrying platforms may be provided, depending upon the number of floorsin the structure which are to be served by the elevating mechanism. Ofcourse suitable guard rails and gates would be provided to insure thesafety of vehicles and people using the structure and the elevatingmechanism; and the operation of the elevating mechanism would be socontrolled that it could not be actuated in a manner that wouldjeopardize the safety of vehicles and people. Such details can bereadily provided; and, in the interest of simplicity, in describing theessential features of the invention such details have been omitted. Itis also to be understood that the embodiments of the invention whichhave been illustrated and described may be modied in many respectswithout departing from the fundamental features thereof as set forth inthe claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is:

l. In a garage, air-raid shelter or the like, a structure including aplurality of floors having openings therein, and an elevating mechanismcomprising a ring rotatably supported in a vertical plane and extendingthrough said floors, means for intermittently rotating said ring,loadcarrying platforms arranged in pairs with the platforms in each pairextending laterally from said ring on opposite sides thereof, and meansfor pivotally suspending the platforms of each pair from said ring,whereby as said ring is intermittently rotated the pairs of platformssuccessively pass through the said openings in said floors and pairs ofplatforms are brought into alignment with the various floors.

2. In a garage, air-raid shelter or the like, a structure including aplurality of floors having openings therein, and an elevating mechanismcomprising a ring located in a vertical plane and extending through saidfloors and provided on its outer circumference with bearing surfaces,rollers rotatably supported'around sad ring'sand cooperating with saidbearing surfaces for rotatably supporting said ring, meansforintermittently rotating said ring, load-.carrying platforms arranged in`pairs with thev platforms in each pair extending laterally. from saidring on opposite sidesthereof, and means for pivotally suspending theplatforms o f each pair from said ring, whereby as said ring isintermittently rotated the pairs of platforms successively pass throughthe said openings in said floors and pairs of platforms are brought intoalignment with the various floors. y

3. In a garage, air-raid shelter or the like, a structure including aplurality of iloors having openings therein, and an elevating mechanismcomprising a ring located in a vertical plane and extending through saidfloors and provided on its outer circumference with gear teeth andbearing surfaces, rollers rotatably supported around said ring andcooperating with said bearing surfaces for rotatably supporting saidring, means cooperating with said gear teeth for intermittently rotatingsaid ring, load-carrying platforms arranged in pairs with the platformsin each pair extending laterally from said ring on opposite sidesthereof, and means for pivotally suspending the platforms of each pairfrom said ring, whereby as said ring is intermittently rotated the pairsof platforms successively pass through the said openings in said iloorsand pairs of platforms are brought into alignment with the variousfloors.

4. In a garage, air-raid shelter or the like, a structure including aplurality of floors having openings therein, and an elevating mechanismcomprising a ring located in a vertical plane and extending through saidfloors and provided on its outer circumference with gear teeth and withbearing surfaces located on each side of said gear teeth, rollersrotatably supported around said ring and cooperating with said bearingsurfaces for rotatably supporting said ring, means cooperating with saidgear teeth for intermittently rotating said ring, load-carryingplatforms arranged in pairs with the platforms in each pair extendinglaterally from said ring on opposite sides thereof, and means forpivotally suspending the platforms of each pair from said ring, wherebyas said ring is intermittently rotated the pairs of platformssuccessively pass through the said openings in said floors and pairs ofplatforms are brought into alignment with the various iloors.

5. In a garage, air-raid shelter or the like, a structure including aplurality of floors having openings therein, and an elevating mechanismcomprising a ring rotatably supported in a vertical plane and extendingthrough said floors and provided on its outer circumference with gearteeth and with bearing surfaces, a fixed ring surrounding and spacedfrom said rotatable ring, rollers rotatably mounted in said xed ring andcooperating with said bearing surfaces for supporting said rotatablering, means cooperating with said gear teeth for intermittently rotatingsaid ring, load-carrying platforms arranged in pairs with the platformsin each pair extending laterally from said ring on opposite sidesthereof, and means for pivotally suspending the platforms of each pairfrom said ring, whereby as said ring is intermittently rotated the pairsof platforms successively pass through the said openings in said floorsand pairs of platforms are brought into alignment with the various oors.

6. In a garage, air-raid shelter or the like, a.

